Press-bit bridle.



J. ERICKSON.

PRESS BIT BRIDLE.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1913.

THE NORRIS PETERS CD DHOTGLITHO.. WASHING 70N f J. ERICKSON.

PRESS BIT BRIDLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1913. 1133,1 15. Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@Epic/$5012 wh/cosas 1 v @Mio/Mlm@ THE NORRIS PETERS C0., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D.

JOHN ERICKSON, 0F WHITE EARTH, NORTH DAKOTA.

PRESS-BIT BRIDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Application filed September 16, 1913. Serial No. 790,028.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN ERICKSON, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at White Earth, in the county of Montraille and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Press-Bit Bridles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in bridles and bits and consists of a bridle andbit of the type that are adapted to exert a pressure upon the side of the horses nose, thus doing away with the usual mouth bit. i

An important object of my invention is to provide a bit and bridle of the character described that will eliminate the use of the ordinary mouth bit and be as eliicient and reliable in its operation, so that the driver in pulling the reins will cause the bitv of my improved construction to press against the side of the horses nose, and thus guide the horse as desired.

A further object of. my invention is to eliminate the use of a mouth bit, which is extremely objectionable in cold weather, as the tongue of the animal often adheres to the bit.

An object of vequal importance is to provide a bridle such as described, which is constructed of few parts reliable and efficient in its operation and cheap to manufacture.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying` drawings described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended thereto and form part of this application. Y

With reference to the drawings, wherein, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which,

' similar reference numerals designate correspending parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my entire device as rit would Vappear in assembled operative position showing the member 24 thrown out of operative position for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my device` Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating in detail one of the pressers and operating mechanism therefor in a posi- Patented Mar. 23, 1915.Y

tion whenv pressed against the nose of a horse and showing the position of the presser when in spaced relation to the nose illustrated in dotted lines, Fig. 4 isa longitudinal.r sectional view taken online 4 4 of Fig. 1. j

Referring to the drawings by numerals, l

designates the nose band forming a part of the bridle. This nose band l is adjustable by means of a plurality of studs, designated 2 as an entirety, that are carried in spaced relationship upon one of the terminals of the band and are adapted to be inserted through certain of a plurality of rectangular openings designated 3 asan entirety, ,that are formed in the other terminal of the nose band in spaced relation. Ay rectangular plate 4 is secured in any suitablemanner to the terminalof the band 1 carrying the openings 3 and is provided'with openings similar to the openings 3, which register therewith. This plate 4 forms a bearing for i the studs 2, that are pivotally secured to the band l so that they may be operated for locking and unlocking position. v

The -bridle connected with the nose band 1 consists of the usual throat latch 5, cheek:`

straps 6, nose strap 7, and'brow band 8. The nose straps 7 are secured in' any suitable manner to the rear edge of the bandvl,

while the throat latch and brow band are secured to the cheek straps in any desirable 1 manner. A pair of blinders designated 9,

as an entirety, connected by a suitably stiff i leather covered wire 10, are detachably secured to each of the cheek strapssby means of the hooks and eyelets 9 and lOthat are f secured to theblinders 9 and the cheek straps 6.

A pair of presser members designated 11l and l2 respectively are secured upon oppoj site sidesof the nose band 1 'and are heldv outwardly from the band' 1 by the mechanism for operating them. that is secured to opposite sides of the band 1. These presser members and mechanism for operatingthem are identical in construction vand arrangement and it is thought necessary to describe Y aline'd arrangement to the sides of the band 1, in spaced relation thereupon adjacent each side edge thereof. A loop, or eye, 18 is formed integral with the rod 15, adjacentk the bearing member 16 as will be clearly seen with reference to Fig. 3,.and formsmeans 'for holding the rod 15 in the position above described and preventing its withdrawal from the bearing member. This rod eX- tends outwardly from the bandv 1 and issecured at its free terminal as at 19 to a pin 20; that is'inserted transversely through the center of thev member 12, in which a recess 21 is formed to provide for the securing of the free termina-l of thebar 15 to the pin 20. A loop or eye 22 is formed integral with the bar 15 adjacent its rear terminal and affords means for securing` a ring or eyelet 23,-that' is adapted to besecured to the driving' rein. This eye 23 consists of a single piece of wire bent intermediate its ends to form a loop' or eye 24 and turned about the member 22 at its free terminal as at 25. A rod 26 is journaled in the bearing member 16" in the enlarged portion 27 thereof and isL secured at its free terminal to an eye 28, mounted upon the lower portionV of the'member 12 adjacent the portion 14rthereof. The enlarged portion 27' ofthe bearing member 16 i's provided' centrally with an opening througlr which extends a loop 29, formed integrally with the rod 26; A connecting rod 30 is secured terminally to the loops 18 and 29 of the bars 15 and 26 respectively. 1t will thus be seen that any movement of thel bar 15y will likewise move the bar 26. The portions ofthe rod 15 and 26 extending outwardly from the member 1 are designated 31 and 32: respectively, and so curved as to cause the pressing member 12 to bear evenly l against thenostrilsof the animal, when the rods 15' and 26A are rotated.

' It is desirable to provide some means for restraining the horse from lowering its head,

when the bridle is attached thereto, and in f this connection there has been provided, a

rod 33, that is journaled for sliding movement in the bearing members 17' at the lower terminal thereof. This rod 33eXtends outwardlyv from the band 1 and isprovided atits'outer terminal with an eyelet 34: that is adapted to have secured thereto the check reinf35. The forward terminal of this rod 333 is provided with an eye 36, which serves to prevent the withdrawal of the rod 33 from the bearing 17. A rod 37 is pivoted so asI to be normally disposed at right angles tothe rod 33, by bending the rod intermediatey its end about a screw 38 that is turned into an enlarged portion 39 formed on the bearing member 17 IThe rod 37 is connected at its lower terminal to the eyelet 36. The upper portion of this rod 37 is bent essentially at right angles' to the lower portion thereof as at 4:0. The portion. 10 of the rod 37 is disposed above and in engagement with the loop 22 formed adjacent the rear terminal of the'rod 15. The rod 32 is to be moved laterally with respect to the band 1 and this movement is brought about when the horse lowers its head. 1t will thus be seen that when the horse lowers its head, the slack on the check rein is taken up, thus moving the rod 33 whereby the rod 37 acting as a lever and the portion 40 engaging the loop 22 of the bar 15, will cause the bar 15 to be rotated and consequently subject pressure upon the horses nose by forcing the member 11 into pressing engagement therewith.

The driving reins, not shown, are to be attached to the members 24 and when pulled will cause the rods 15 and 32 to press the presser members 11 and 12 in engagement with the nostrils of the horse.

l In reduction topractice I have found that the form of my invention', illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasizethel fact' that various minor changes in details'` of construction, proportion and arrangements ofV parts may be resorted to, whenv required, without sacrificing any of the advantages, of my' invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Havingl thus described my invention, l claim:

1. In a bridle of the character described the combination with a nose band of a pair of presser members pivoted` thereto, a pair of rods journaled upon opposite sides of said nose bandv connected with4 said. pressers centrally of the ends thereof, eyelets connected with said rods and adapted to be secured to the reins, a second pair of rods operatively connected with said first named rods and the lower terminals'of said pressers,v and means for causing said pressers to bear against the nose of the horse,.operated when the horse lowers its head.

2. 1n a bridle of the character described the combination with a nose band of a pair of presser membersV secured thereto, a plurality of curved rods carried upon each side of said nose band and connected with the presser members, said rods connected centrally and at the lower terminals of said presser members in spaced relation to each other, one of saidrods adapted to, be connected with the driving reins, and means for causing the presser members connected with said rods to press against the nostrils of the horse.

3. In a bridle of the character described the combination with a nose band of a pair of presser members secured thereto, said presser members provided terminally with enlargedportions, means for causing said presser members to be pressed against the sides of the nostrils of the horse, monnted upon said nose band 'connected with' said presser members, and spacing them'from said nose band, and means connected with the check rein of a bridle for causing the presser member to be pressed in engagement with the nostrils of the horse, should the animal lower its head.

4.' A bridle including a nose band, presser members secured to the nose band, means for causing said presser members to be pressed against the sides of the nostrils of the horse consisting of rods rotatably journaled on the nose band and pivotally connected With the presser members at points adjacent certain ends of the presser members and the central portions thereof, a right angularly extending loop formed on each of therods, a link connecting the loops With each other, and means to rotate both of the rods to cause the presser members to engage the sides of the horses head.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

, JOHN ERICKSON. Witnesses:

T. J. CLIFFORD, G. D. EATON.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

